Gateway Shipping was founded in 791 A.S. by a group of New London investors interested in hauling raw materials across house borders and independent worlds for sale to various, smaller Sirius companies. After Gateway established a contract with the Independent Miners Guild they became noticed by their big competitor, Border World Exports. In 793 A.S. Gateway Shipping bought the Bowex owned base, Kensington Shipping by bypassing Bowex and purchasing the base via the Bretonia government. This was the start of the fierce competition between the two companies. Within a decade and a half, Gateway had concluded contracts with a number of organizations to be their primary shipper, the Independent Miners Guild perhaps the largest and best known among them. By helping out these competing smaller companies Gateway found its place in the market, and became commonly known as the underdog of Bretonia.

Gateway has undergone a number of changes in its short history, not least of which occurred in its leadership. Alisdair Buchanan, a Bretonian businessman, philanthropist, and populist sympathizer, and one of Gateway’s initial investors, came to find deeply rooted corrupt practices by a number of Gateway’s executives and investors following the Nomad War (800-801 A.S.). Gradually, he bought out the other investors until he owned a majority percentage of the firm, at which point he fired the executives in question and restructured the company in line with the values of employee and community development. Rechristened Gateway Interstellar, the young firm moved quickly to expand its trade division into a first-class fleet, eventually entering into markets that had been dominated by its rivals.

Gateway Interstellar operated as a company that deeply valued its employees and its partners, and was actively seeking opportunities to develop its services to both. Gateway Interstellar has not actively supported the war against Kusari for both humanitarian and economic reasons. However, Gateway has always sought the Bretonian people’s best interests, and with Kusari’s incursion into Leeds System, – the Royal Liner Carpathia – had been converted to a refugee ferry to evacuate Planets Leeds and Harris, and other affected locales.

Gateway Interstellar came to an end when CEO Calum McDonald stepped down and assigned Richard Coleman as his replacement. Richard renamed Gateway back to Gateway Shipping as a symbolic gesture of the new start Gateway was going to make. This was the beginning of a complete reorganization that would make achieving higher goals possible for Gateway. Although there has been a lot of changes made within the company the core identity of Gateway still holds strong. Gateway is known as a classic underdog, a small but energetic firm holding its own in a market of large conglomerates, both private and government-subsidized. While relations remain tense with its primary rival, Bretonia’s nationalized Borderworlds Exports, Gateway is recognized as a firm operating squarely within Bretonian identity and interests. Richard Coleman stepped down due to health reasons,and was succeeded by the Vice-CEO: Alan Martins, who was later succeeded by Bruno Gehard.

Due to growing legal troubles and public relations issues, Gehard stepped down and was replaced by Miles Stuart as CEO. But, unfortunately Stuart met with an accident and was hospitalized on New London. The Executive Board arranged for emergency meeting, but then-Chairman Bruno Gehard refused to resume his former post as CEO, hence Vimal Kumar volunteered and was voted in his stead. Nearly an year later after his accident, Miles Stuart has returned from hospital on full recovery, and was immediately appointed as Chaiman in light of the absence of Bruno Gehard, who was later found to be arrested by Bretonian Police Authority for crimes they have listed out. He is currently at Newgate Prison awaiting trial.

Late in 820 A.S., Gateway Shipping Incorporation had attempted to expanded its business by merging with the Liberty based LTS in order to give them better access and market share throughout Sirius. This merger, however, was later challenged in early 821 A.S. by the return of former LTS CEO David Leroy, who managed to wrest control of Muroto Trade Center away from Gateway and regain full autonomy for his company. Gateway is currently awaiting a resolution to the problem.

Bases of Operation

Kensington Shipping Platform

Constructed in 672 A.S., Kensington Shipping Platform was the fruit of Gateway's relative success in the past two centuries. Rising from relative obscurity, Gateway Shipping has shown itself to be a strong competitor to Border Worlds Exports.

Though they may not hold major contracts with Bretonian giants such as BMM and Border Worlds Exports, Gateway Shipping has had great breakthroughs with upstart corporations such as the Independent Mining Guild, Planetform, ALG Waste Disposal, and several other small firms that produce domestic products within Bretonia who were scorned from their respective businesses by BMM and BowEx. By filling niche markets, Gateway has found its place in the Bretonian market, a place large enough to actively compete with BowEx, though the former giant still holds the majority of market share.

Oceana Shipping Platform

Set just 10k distant of the beautiful planet Curacao in the Cortez system, Gateway Shipping' Inc.'s newest expansion, Oceana Shipping Platform, is ready to begin business operations.

Our goal is to help make Cortez a primary shipping and commercial center between Liberty, Bretonia, as well as the Taus and other Border worlds as well. A place where traders can buy and sell a wide variety a goods that might otherwise be in markets unavailable to them.

Gateway would like to personally thank the brave men and women of the Independent Miners Guild, ALG, Platinum Inc, the Colonial Movers, the brave men and women of the Bretonian Armed Forces and Liberty Navy, and all others who have assisted us in getting things up and running!

Caernarfon Station

Caernarfon Station represents two major changes in Bretonian attitude. As Newbury became the first police operation to be supplied by Gateway Shipping, Caernarfon breaks the tradition of Borderworld Exports supplying government operations. Additionally, the station is designed to be able to shelter the entire Bretonian cabinet and the Royal Family, acting as a fallback point if the capitol of New London were to ever fall. As such, Caernarfon remains true to its historical precedent of being both a busy port and a defensible stronghold.

Company structure

The company structure of Gateway Shipping is divided into three Division: Logistics, Security, and Executive.

Primary duty

Transportation of goods

Ever since Gateway Shipping started the primary focus was on the shipping of goods for clients. In time the trading fleet increased in size as Gateway gained more clients, and Gateway had to adjust their strategy multiple times to maximize the quality of transportation. Today there are multiple methods of transporting goods. A Captain of a trade ship can take on a large arrange of orders from all sorts of companies. These are usually planned in such a way that it can be made into a route. Some orders can be completed by one trading ship, but some orders are too big and require a convoy achieve the requirement of goods.

Convoy

A convoy is a group of trading ships traveling together for mutual support and protection. When Gateway receives an order that requires more than one trading ship to complete a convoy will be put together. Convoys of Gateway Shipping are highly structured and organized, but most of all: Safe. In most cases there are security ships flying along the convoy to ensure its safety.
When a convoy is grouped there is one person assigned as convoy leader, this is usually the highest ranking of the logistics department, but in case all attending people are of the same rank this can be discussed. The convoy leader is responsible for all attending trading vessels. He/she will make sure that everyone attending the convoy is aware of where the convoy is heading, and which goods have to be delivered or picked up. The convoy leader also makes sure that the chatter is maintained, so that important messages won’t be lost.

Secondary duties

Route planning

To maximize productivity of the logistics department planning effective routes is critical. Every employee of the department may take their shot at planning a new route, or altering an existing one. Once they’ve made a sketch of the new or renewed route they will present this to the Logistics Manager who will decide whether or not this new route will be implemented into the list of existing routes.

Security Division

The security division is a team of professionals, and teamwork runs strong among these security guards.
The head of security is the highest rank to be obtained in the security division of Gateway Shipping. This person is hand-picked by the company CEO and leads the division. He/She is in charge of all security related matters concerning Gateway Shipping.

Primary duty

Escort

This is the primary duty of the security division. Ensuring that Gateway transports make it to their destination safely, and as fast as possible. This division uses advanced tactics to improve the quality of the escort service we provide. There are two positions when escorting.

Secondary duties

Corporate Raiding

Security Division can also raid Bowex ships outside house space, as well as Gallic corporate vessels whenever they are found.

Executive Division

Positions

Chief Executive Officer

He is the head of all divisions and the Leader of Gateway Shipping Incorporation. Under his command the Executive lead the Gateway Shipping into Success.

Chairman

He is the Second in Command of Gateway Shipping Incorporation. He takes care of internal affairs most of the time and deals with other things in the absence of the CEO.

Executives

Executives are the persons who take care of each divisions respectively given to them. They are responsible for their Division's performance. Also they form part of the Executive Board, where they can vote to pass a resolution.